Meeky Member
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By the by, does my nation application require any adjustments? Did you want specific numbers for the military section? Is there anything you feel doesn't fit or something you think should be added / removed? Also, do you think I should remove the experimental rockets mentioned at the bottom of the military section, given that Qalimeq utilizes pegasus cavalry (which would be its "niche" unit)?
Looking at the civilizations already in play, the T'Tiri (as a synthetic, technology-focused species) would feel rather redundant. I have another concept in mind, but I want to ask: Would it be permissible to play a fleet of adventurers instead of a planet-based civilization? I'm toying with ideas, and alien adventurers is standing out among them.
I've opted to go for something a little less "out there," because... Well, let's just say I was thinking about the Ottoman Empire.
* * * * *
Portrait of Faqim Al-Qari and his entourage, current Emperor of the Qalimeqi Empire
Fitting Music
Name of Nation: The Qalimeqi Empire; Grand Qalimeq
Flag: A black sword with its hilt at the top splitting a yellow background, resting behind a setting red-orange sun.
Demonym of Nation: Qalimeqi
Race Description(s):
Humans (Qalimeqi) - Qalimeqi humans have brown skin whose tone ranges from a heavy tan to being so dark it appears black in the desert heat. They stand a few inches taller on average than most humans. There are other subgroups of humans within Qalimeq living in vassal duchies, and the typically have more of an olive complexion. Humans hold the highest positions in Qalimeqi society, but that does not protect them from poverty nor the circumstances that may lead to a lower-class life.
Goblins - Small and numerous, these three foot tall creatures have a ruddy yellow complexion and are native to the desert. They are wide eared, clawed, agile, and have a uniquely nomadic lifestyle. While they theoretically possess status equal to that of the humans, they rarely become wealthy or important figures in Qalimeqi society.
Hobgoblins - Standing just a little shorter than humans (with an average height of 5'6"), hobgoblins are the result of men breeding with goblins. While some are born sterile, many have bred with one another long enough to form their own race. Their appearance is a blending of the features of both heritages: Brown-yellow skin, a lean but muscular build, clawed fingers, and sharp teeth. Hobgoblins are somewhat uncommon, but are known to make terrific soldiers, combining goblin reflexes and agility with Qalimeqi discipline and adaptability. Like goblins, they are theoretical equals to humans; unlike goblins, they have a very distinct chance to earn respect and recognition through military service.
List of Race Perks and Nerfs:
Humans (Qalimeqi) - No unique perks or nerfs.
Goblins - Increased agility and senses; small size makes them difficult to hit, but also forces them to wield smaller weapons and makes them less capable melee combatants.
Hobgoblins - Better agility, stamina, and senses than a human; slightly smaller, but not in a truly impactful way. Not very numerous.
Nation Location: (Decided after map, people who finish nation sheets first get first call)
Description of Nation: Qalimeq, more formally known as Grand Qalimeq or the Qalimeqi Empire, is a once-glorious empire that almost lost its place as a world power due to adherence to tradition. It covers a vast measure of territory chiefly consisting of plains, deserts, and hills and mountains, with a generally warm climate and mild winters. With only a few mighty rivers and their flood plains marring the great expanse, Qalimeq's land has always encouraged the use of horses, elephants, and pegusi, and its armies have historically been a dominant force in the region. Qalimeqi armies have spent the last century subjugating their neighbors, incorporating them into their empire as vassal duchies, incorporating the goblins into their empire, and controlling the trade of spices and dyes.
With the advent of firearms, however, Qalimeq has slowly lost the ground it gained. The last war proved especially devestating; one battle saw a force of nine thousand elite cavalry was utterly annihilated by a smaller force equipped only with rifles and a single combat walker. Since then, the empire has been scrambling to change its military policies.
In other areas, Qalimeq is ahead of the majority of the world. They have an ancient tradition of philosophy, and the sciences of astronomy, chemistry, and medicine have long flourished in the nation. In ages past, it was considered the center of knowledge and learning throughout all the world. However, the military has been slow to adapt to the changing world, and the changes that have been made have created rebellious divisions among the religious and military sects of the nation. There is a very real tension between these fanatics and those who would change the nation, and should these factions see an opportunity, they will gladly strike against their own ruler to attempt a coup.
Despite these factors, the Qalimeq Empire has not left the scene of global powers yet. It remains a noteworthy competitor militarily, and it has enough economic and scientific clout to influence the world outside the arena of war. If it can survive the next decade, it will surely come out of the ashes like the phoenix: Reborn.
Government of Nation: Federal Monarchy - The Empire consists of numerous semi-independent regions and duchies which are partly autonomous but concede to the will of the highest authority, the Qalimeqi Emperor. Upon the Emperor's death, a new Emperor is chosen by a council (half elected, half born into their station) of all the provinces from the royal family. While the ruler is usually chosen based on merit, corrupt bargains have rigged these elections several times in the past.
Capital of Nation: Ahnidad
Population of Nation: 80 million approximately (57 million humans, 18 million goblins, 5 million hobgoblins)
Economy of Nation: Trade is vital to Qalimeq's economy, and they maintain rigid control over the trade of spices and dyes, and Qalimeqi merchants also have their hands in the trade of sugar, salt, and precious metals. Shepherding and farming are both also major occupations in the regions surrounding the flood plains along the nation's mighty river. Orchards for olives and fruits are also common, moreso in the duchies than in the desert heartland.
As a center of culture and learning, Qalimeq also tutors would-be scholars from across the globe, and its horse and pegusi races attract many eager spectators. Due to being behind in the areas of mechanical and electrical engineering, this facet of Qalimeq's economy is slowly dwindling; it does not help that this new era of progress is causing other nations to establish more universities.
Qalimeq has instituted a special tax on those who do not follow the main religion (Al-Qalai, a monotheistic religion in which ancestors of the royal family were prophets, thus granting them divine right to rule). It increases their tax rate by approximately four percent; a hefty price, perhaps, but those who pay it are otherwise treated as equals to the Qalamites of the Empire. This tax provides enough income to be considered a considerable source of revenue.
Nation's Major Exports: Luxury goods; salt; sugar; horses; wool.
Nation's Major Imports: Iron; steel; coal; copper; beef.
Nation's Military Description: There is a healthy focus on the national military. About 3% of the population (2.67 million citizens) serve in the Empire's military. Of this number, Qalimeq has invested substantially into its Grand Army, with 40% of the nation's troops serving as infantry, marksmen, irregulars, and similar units; 20% more of the enlisted population serves as land-based cavalry; another 30% serve in the Imperial Aerial Forces (I.A.F.), and the last 10% serve in the Imperial Naval Forces (I.N.F.).
Despite the disasters of the last war, there is still a struggle in the nation's military between those who would adapt and those who would stick to the tried and true ways of old. The cavalryman still serves as an integral part of the nation's army, though his role on the battlefield is changing. While Qalimeqi cavalry still act as shock troops and flankers when the opportunity allows, they are now equipped with rifles as well as swords and lances, harassing the enemy from a distance to soften the ranks before riding in for the kill. The cavalryman is slowly being replaced by a new sort of mobile unit: the airship.
Airships are employed by the Qalimeqi Empire as scouts and as bombers. Due to their fragile nature, they come with pegasus riding cavalry equipped with small rifles for fighting aircraft and curved blades for charging enemies below. They also carry grenades, which are easily dropped on unsuspecting infantry. An airship carrying an attachment of pegasus cavalry can deal with most landed landed opponents sufficiently, but faces some difficulty when fending off aerial assaults. The weaponry aboard a Qalimeqi airship is less advanced than that of other nations', and so their aerial cavalry must compensate for this weakness, charging through the skies and riding down the workers aboard enemy airships, where they try to find a weak point in the hull surrounding the gas bags.
Pegusas cavalry are used outside of aerial combat, and have long been the most recognizable force in the Qalimeqi military; however, with the advent of deadlier and more accurate firearms, these valuable beasts are being limited more and more to fighting in the sky.
On the ground, traditional cavalry equipped with pistols and swords fight alongside infantry equipped with single-shot, long-ranged rifles. While these rifles cannot fire very quickly, they have great accuracy, especially in the hands of hobgoblins, and hobgoblin marksmen are becoming more and more commonplace. Skirmish-style tactics are often utilized to make better use of these rifles.
Goblins can be found working as irregulars in the Qalimeqi army. Their small size makes them great ambushers, as they can hide in many environments and, equipped with grenades, pistols, bombs, bows and axes, can serve reliably as cannon fodder, saboteurs, and urban fighters. Veteran goblin irregulars have formed specialist squads that often work before the main Qalimeqi force arrives, assassinating officers or making breaches to allow the famous Qalimeqi cavalry to charge past enemy defenses.
Artillery have a place in the Qalimeqi military in sieges, but the weapons are not very advanced compared to the artillery of other nations. Members of any race can be found crewing these crude cannons.
The most experimental unit in the Qalimeqi army has yet to be tested on the battlefield: Gas-filled rockets. In ancient times, Qalimeq used simple explosive rockets filled with gunpowder (which would later lead to the invention of fireworks) to assault enemy fortifications. The rockets to be used now are propelled with an explosive force, but are designed to release a trail of toxic gas as they travel, and then burst in a cloud of it upon impact. While the design is still rough and the firing crews are suffering some unhealthy side effects from the gases being released in their proximity, the progressive minds in the military have convinced the traditionalists to allow them to be tested in the next great conflict.
Qalimeq has never focused very much on its navy, and does so even less with the invention of the almighty airship and its explosive payload. The navy utilizes similar tactics as its aerial counterpart: partly armored destroyers function as the defense for carrier vessels which are host to a number of pegasus cavalry. These cavalry drop bombs on enemy ships and and sometimes act as boarding crews, using the pistol and the sword to take over enemy vessels. As with Qalimeq's airships, the destroyers and carriers in the navy have less advanced armor and weapons than those of other nations, and are thus liable to be defeated in a broadside or sustained combat; it's up to the nimble pegusi to achieve victory for the Imperial Naval Forces.
* * * * *
Fitting Music
Name of Nation: The Qalimeqi Empire; Grand Qalimeq
Flag: A black sword with its hilt at the top splitting a yellow background, resting behind a setting red-orange sun.
Demonym of Nation: Qalimeqi
Race Description(s):
Humans (Qalimeqi) - Qalimeqi humans have brown skin whose tone ranges from a heavy tan to being so dark it appears black in the desert heat. They stand a few inches taller on average than most humans. There are other subgroups of humans within Qalimeq living in vassal duchies, and the typically have more of an olive complexion. Humans hold the highest positions in Qalimeqi society, but that does not protect them from poverty nor the circumstances that may lead to a lower-class life.
Goblins - Small and numerous, these three foot tall creatures have a ruddy yellow complexion and are native to the desert. They are wide eared, clawed, agile, and have a uniquely nomadic lifestyle. While they theoretically possess status equal to that of the humans, they rarely become wealthy or important figures in Qalimeqi society.
Hobgoblins - Standing just a little shorter than humans (with an average height of 5'6"), hobgoblins are the result of men breeding with goblins. While some are born sterile, many have bred with one another long enough to form their own race. Their appearance is a blending of the features of both heritages: Brown-yellow skin, a lean but muscular build, clawed fingers, and sharp teeth. Hobgoblins are somewhat uncommon, but are known to make terrific soldiers, combining goblin reflexes and agility with Qalimeqi discipline and adaptability. Like goblins, they are theoretical equals to humans; unlike goblins, they have a very distinct chance to earn respect and recognition through military service.
List of Race Perks and Nerfs:
Humans (Qalimeqi) - No unique perks or nerfs.
Goblins - Increased agility and senses; small size makes them difficult to hit, but also forces them to wield smaller weapons and makes them less capable melee combatants.
Hobgoblins - Better agility, stamina, and senses than a human; slightly smaller, but not in a truly impactful way. Not very numerous.
Nation Location: (Decided after map, people who finish nation sheets first get first call)
Description of Nation: Qalimeq, more formally known as Grand Qalimeq or the Qalimeqi Empire, is a once-glorious empire that almost lost its place as a world power due to adherence to tradition. It covers a vast measure of territory chiefly consisting of plains, deserts, and hills and mountains, with a generally warm climate and mild winters. With only a few mighty rivers and their flood plains marring the great expanse, Qalimeq's land has always encouraged the use of horses, elephants, and pegusi, and its armies have historically been a dominant force in the region. Qalimeqi armies have spent the last century subjugating their neighbors, incorporating them into their empire as vassal duchies, incorporating the goblins into their empire, and controlling the trade of spices and dyes.
With the advent of firearms, however, Qalimeq has slowly lost the ground it gained. The last war proved especially devestating; one battle saw a force of nine thousand elite cavalry was utterly annihilated by a smaller force equipped only with rifles and a single combat walker. Since then, the empire has been scrambling to change its military policies.
In other areas, Qalimeq is ahead of the majority of the world. They have an ancient tradition of philosophy, and the sciences of astronomy, chemistry, and medicine have long flourished in the nation. In ages past, it was considered the center of knowledge and learning throughout all the world. However, the military has been slow to adapt to the changing world, and the changes that have been made have created rebellious divisions among the religious and military sects of the nation. There is a very real tension between these fanatics and those who would change the nation, and should these factions see an opportunity, they will gladly strike against their own ruler to attempt a coup.
Despite these factors, the Qalimeq Empire has not left the scene of global powers yet. It remains a noteworthy competitor militarily, and it has enough economic and scientific clout to influence the world outside the arena of war. If it can survive the next decade, it will surely come out of the ashes like the phoenix: Reborn.
Government of Nation: Federal Monarchy - The Empire consists of numerous semi-independent regions and duchies which are partly autonomous but concede to the will of the highest authority, the Qalimeqi Emperor. Upon the Emperor's death, a new Emperor is chosen by a council (half elected, half born into their station) of all the provinces from the royal family. While the ruler is usually chosen based on merit, corrupt bargains have rigged these elections several times in the past.
Capital of Nation: Ahnidad
Population of Nation: 80 million approximately (57 million humans, 18 million goblins, 5 million hobgoblins)
Economy of Nation: Trade is vital to Qalimeq's economy, and they maintain rigid control over the trade of spices and dyes, and Qalimeqi merchants also have their hands in the trade of sugar, salt, and precious metals. Shepherding and farming are both also major occupations in the regions surrounding the flood plains along the nation's mighty river. Orchards for olives and fruits are also common, moreso in the duchies than in the desert heartland.
As a center of culture and learning, Qalimeq also tutors would-be scholars from across the globe, and its horse and pegusi races attract many eager spectators. Due to being behind in the areas of mechanical and electrical engineering, this facet of Qalimeq's economy is slowly dwindling; it does not help that this new era of progress is causing other nations to establish more universities.
Qalimeq has instituted a special tax on those who do not follow the main religion (Al-Qalai, a monotheistic religion in which ancestors of the royal family were prophets, thus granting them divine right to rule). It increases their tax rate by approximately four percent; a hefty price, perhaps, but those who pay it are otherwise treated as equals to the Qalamites of the Empire. This tax provides enough income to be considered a considerable source of revenue.
Nation's Major Exports: Luxury goods; salt; sugar; horses; wool.
Nation's Major Imports: Iron; steel; coal; copper; beef.
Nation's Military Description: There is a healthy focus on the national military. About 3% of the population (2.67 million citizens) serve in the Empire's military. Of this number, Qalimeq has invested substantially into its Grand Army, with 40% of the nation's troops serving as infantry, marksmen, irregulars, and similar units; 20% more of the enlisted population serves as land-based cavalry; another 30% serve in the Imperial Aerial Forces (I.A.F.), and the last 10% serve in the Imperial Naval Forces (I.N.F.).
Despite the disasters of the last war, there is still a struggle in the nation's military between those who would adapt and those who would stick to the tried and true ways of old. The cavalryman still serves as an integral part of the nation's army, though his role on the battlefield is changing. While Qalimeqi cavalry still act as shock troops and flankers when the opportunity allows, they are now equipped with rifles as well as swords and lances, harassing the enemy from a distance to soften the ranks before riding in for the kill. The cavalryman is slowly being replaced by a new sort of mobile unit: the airship.
Airships are employed by the Qalimeqi Empire as scouts and as bombers. Due to their fragile nature, they come with pegasus riding cavalry equipped with small rifles for fighting aircraft and curved blades for charging enemies below. They also carry grenades, which are easily dropped on unsuspecting infantry. An airship carrying an attachment of pegasus cavalry can deal with most landed landed opponents sufficiently, but faces some difficulty when fending off aerial assaults. The weaponry aboard a Qalimeqi airship is less advanced than that of other nations', and so their aerial cavalry must compensate for this weakness, charging through the skies and riding down the workers aboard enemy airships, where they try to find a weak point in the hull surrounding the gas bags.
Pegusas cavalry are used outside of aerial combat, and have long been the most recognizable force in the Qalimeqi military; however, with the advent of deadlier and more accurate firearms, these valuable beasts are being limited more and more to fighting in the sky.
On the ground, traditional cavalry equipped with pistols and swords fight alongside infantry equipped with single-shot, long-ranged rifles. While these rifles cannot fire very quickly, they have great accuracy, especially in the hands of hobgoblins, and hobgoblin marksmen are becoming more and more commonplace. Skirmish-style tactics are often utilized to make better use of these rifles.
Goblins can be found working as irregulars in the Qalimeqi army. Their small size makes them great ambushers, as they can hide in many environments and, equipped with grenades, pistols, bombs, bows and axes, can serve reliably as cannon fodder, saboteurs, and urban fighters. Veteran goblin irregulars have formed specialist squads that often work before the main Qalimeqi force arrives, assassinating officers or making breaches to allow the famous Qalimeqi cavalry to charge past enemy defenses.
Artillery have a place in the Qalimeqi military in sieges, but the weapons are not very advanced compared to the artillery of other nations. Members of any race can be found crewing these crude cannons.
The most experimental unit in the Qalimeqi army has yet to be tested on the battlefield: Gas-filled rockets. In ancient times, Qalimeq used simple explosive rockets filled with gunpowder (which would later lead to the invention of fireworks) to assault enemy fortifications. The rockets to be used now are propelled with an explosive force, but are designed to release a trail of toxic gas as they travel, and then burst in a cloud of it upon impact. While the design is still rough and the firing crews are suffering some unhealthy side effects from the gases being released in their proximity, the progressive minds in the military have convinced the traditionalists to allow them to be tested in the next great conflict.
Qalimeq has never focused very much on its navy, and does so even less with the invention of the almighty airship and its explosive payload. The navy utilizes similar tactics as its aerial counterpart: partly armored destroyers function as the defense for carrier vessels which are host to a number of pegasus cavalry. These cavalry drop bombs on enemy ships and and sometimes act as boarding crews, using the pistol and the sword to take over enemy vessels. As with Qalimeq's airships, the destroyers and carriers in the navy have less advanced armor and weapons than those of other nations, and are thus liable to be defeated in a broadside or sustained combat; it's up to the nimble pegusi to achieve victory for the Imperial Naval Forces.
I believe I'm done with my application. It's not perfect, but I think it gets the point across.
Alfhedil said
Oh hey there Meeky, I think I remember you from an RP on OldGuild called War Among the Stars originally run by a dude called Trent. You played sentient crystals in that one too, I believe.
That's right. And you were playing the species from another galaxy that the T'Tiri were aligning themselves with, right?
I wound up leaving the forum back then for a few reasons, but I'm glad to be back. But yes, that's the same species I'm planning to remake, since I never got to see the full 'what if' scenario play out. I'm going to make sure they won't be repetitive first, though; I'd hate to have the pseudo-pacifist space crystals role be too similar to another civilization.
I don't have time to make an application right now, but I've just rediscovered this website and I'm itching to get into a couple nation roleplays. This one looks very, very promising. I'll read and see what others have created before I make my own application.
EDIT: ...I'll be seriously tempted to use a previous species from a roleplay I was in before I vanished from the old website. Do you have any problems with me using an old race I never got to see reach its fruition? It was an artificially created species of crystal that interacted with the world via sonic waves. Think: Computers in crystal form.
EDIT: ...I'll be seriously tempted to use a previous species from a roleplay I was in before I vanished from the old website. Do you have any problems with me using an old race I never got to see reach its fruition? It was an artificially created species of crystal that interacted with the world via sonic waves. Think: Computers in crystal form.
This application is incomplete yet. I'll come back and finish it later.
Nation
Name: The Goblin Territories; the Confederation of Clans
Flag: There is no national flag, though there are numerous flags for individual goblin clans. Most of these depict weapons, trophies, an object from a major battle, or religious symbols. The flag of the most powerful clan depicts a black tower being toppled on an orange background.
Capitol: Daggerpoint (Formerly known as Veristal, a human merchant metropolis)
Capitol Population: 2,000,000
Population: 7,500,000 (approximate)
Major cities: Deepwatch (an underground city), Fort Longtooth (home to the Longtooth Clan, a group of famous raiders), Boggerdown (a swampy morass where explosive gases can be found)
Racial demographics: 7,500,000 goblins
Society:
"They [the goblins] crawl out of their dens like ants from their nest, but possess neither of the insect virtues of diligence nor loyalty."
~Theo Hawken, scholar
Goblins are an isolationist and territorial lot whose memories extend far beyond their short lifespans, and are more loyal to each other than outsiders would suspect. Goblin clans often wage war on each other, true; but within a given clan, there is a strong sense of community, perhaps because everyone within the clan must contribute for the goblins to survive in the harsh environments they are forced to live in. A common saying goes like this: "If there's one goblin, there's a hundred of them," and that's not far from the truth. Threatening the life or livelihood of a goblin will bring most of its extended family to the scene ready to attack.
Life for goblins has never been easy. They have always been forced into the places nobody wishes to live: The swamps, the wastelands, and the bowels of the earth. Their society has adapted to reflect this; their buildings tend to be very crude and minimalist, built to be taken apart and moved at any time or used as deathtraps for invaders. If they're built to last, they're built to be hidden or located somewhere civilized people would never wish to tread. The goblin palette ranges from bland to heartbreaking; some clans are able to live off of rice and leaves, but others are forced to eat little more than worms, insects, and tree bark.
For those clans in the Goblin Territories, an individual's role in society is a strange and uncertain thing. Goblins are a community-minded people, so anyone who makes a bid for power is often either cut from a different vein than the majority of their kin or believes they will help their clan the best by leading them. Usually, leadership is taken on a simple basis of "might makes right," but sometimes there is a religious context that brings an individual to the forefront of goblin politics.
Goblin religion is a superstitious beast filled with omens good and bad that are read by oracles and prophets. Goblins do not worship gods so much as they revere heroes of the past and make bargains with spirits to bring favor or avoid catastrophe. Indeed, goblin priests are most often referred to as "God-Talkers" because they are believed to actually speak and haggle with the gods. This often means offering a sacrifice in return for a better fungal harvest or avoiding some territory for a few years in return for favors on the battlefield. Given the rather unorthodox nature of their religion, it should not be surprising that goblins include other peoples' deities in their religion. Many a traveler has been surprised to see a clan of goblins worshiping the statue of a human hero, striking bargains with the hero's spirit and trying to gain his unique human insight into the ways of their enemies.
Law: Tradition and group cohesion take precedence in goblin law. The ruler of a given clan (known as a 'king' or 'queen') has the right to give any ruling he or she desires over any incident, but tyrannical or arbitrary behavior will quickly see them deposed and killed. Instead, they often delegate this power to any goblin over the age of ten who demonstrates a keen understanding of goblin history and traditional law. Known simply as Elders, these individuals have the same absolute power and are subject to the same violent whims of their people, and make decisions in the name of the clan boss. Usually, the ruler of the clan will conduct executions personally to show the clan that they can bear the responsibility of their position, even if that means executing their own close relatives.
Education: Goblins do not have the same educational opportunities the rest of the world does given their difficult situation. Most young goblins are taught collectively by a group of adults in the basics of the world: How to forage, fight, and flee. Once they reach the age of three years old, goblins are usually apprenticed in more specific trades, finding individuals willing to sponsor and teach them. Each goblin has an equal opportunity to become anything the tribe may need (fungal farmer, hunter, bug breeder, apothecary, God-Talker, etc.), and those who cannot find a sponsor typically become laborers or warriors.
Technology: While the rest of the world embraces steamworks and metallurgy, the Confederation of Clans focuses its efforts on subjects within the natural world: Poisons, medicines, diseases, and beasts. Goblins are always hunting through the swamps in search of new, more powerful herbs that may be used to harm their enemies of heal their kin, and through selective breeding (and a little magic) have created species of poisonous wasps, weaponized termites, giant spiders, and more. Besides such strange and terrible things, goblins also are always eager to experiment with swamp gases...
Tax: Goblins do not have a form of currency and thus do not have taxes; instead, they simply pool their resources together and take what is needed for themselves.
Imports: Goblins are not known for trade. If they do trade, however, they import metal objects (especially tools and weapons), alcohol, salt, and meat.
Exports: If anyone will accept goblin goods, they typically are after their deadly poisons or their powerful herbal medicines. Some will trade for the sap and wood from goblins' swamp trees. The wood is held in high regard for its strong but flexible nature, and the sap can be used as a sort of glue. Nobody trades for goblin food, though.
Industries: Wood works; alchemy; herbs; fungus farming; insects.
Renown Associations: The Bog
Government: Confederation - There are a large number of goblin clans, and each clan considers itself independent; however, the clans have joined together to form a confederation to assist each other in times of war. The head of the confederation is known simply as the 'Big King' or 'Big Queen' depending on their gender and has absolute authority in matters of war. This is not to say their rule is unquestioned. Indeed, the head of this confederation is often forced to demonstrate their power either in a show of personal strength or by attacking the offending clan.
Relations: The Confederation of Clans has no real allies, and yet it has many enemies. It does not help matters that they are considered lower than animals by most of the world. Anyone who wishes to invade or enslave the goblins would find no political opposition from the rest of the world. The Goblins are in severe need of allies, but anyone who would align themselves with them risks losing their other allies, and those nations who lack allies would likely betray the Goblins the moment the alliance proved unfavorable. Needless to say, this puts the goblins in a unique and disastrous political position.
Important officials:
* Big Queen Brigga - More commonly known as "Big Brigga," this goblin woman has reached twelve years of age (well into adulthood) and is known for being rather tall for a goblin, standing at a full five feet. Big Brigga, head of the Dagger Clan, is a warlord through and through, having been essential in the recent reunification of the clans and the conquest of the territories the Confederation now calls its own. The prophets all agree that she is destined to lead the goblins to an age of glory. Until her rise to power, there had been no Big Queen or Big King for fifty years.
Currency: Goblins do not have a currency. They measure wealth by the quantity and quality of one's goods.
Military: While the exact numbers of soldiers in the goblin armies change frequently, and no real count is ever made, it can be agreed that almost every goblin is capable of fighting, though only 5-10 percent of the species serves as an active military force. Anyone attacking a goblin city will likely face opposition from even their noncombatants.
Goblin forces wield unconventional weaponry. While they lack the powerful steam-powered weaponry of other nations, they wield terrifying toxins and ride unusual beasts into battle. Many a knight has gaped in horror as acid bombs dissolved his fine steel armor, and many more soldiers have had to leave the battlefield suffering maladies ranging from mild irritations to fatal poisons, dysentery, boils, thin blood and paralyzed limbs after being struck by a tainted goblin arrow. Their weapons tend to be barbed or hooked, and many goblins purposely rust their arrowheads and spears to better spread disease and illness among their enemies. Other goblin weapons include weaponized termites (used especially in naval battles) flung in jars, catapults that launch rotting corpses, flasks of acid, sticky bombs, explosive balloons (made from swamp gases), slings designed to launch unusual projectiles (such as flasks and bombs), and more.
Goblins tactics typically involve weakening their opponents as much as possible before attacking en-masse. To this end, they depend largely on speed, mobility, and ambushes. Goblins often strike at night rather than the day, and will use the terrain against their enemies. Their mounts range from giant spiders (which are used to prepare ambushes in forests and in the swamps) to wolves and giant wasps (which serve the function of more traditional cavalry).
Landscape: Swamplands make up the majority of the Confederacy's lands, though there are also forests and hilly regions. The eastern peninsula within the goblin territories is rather mountainous. There are also several caves that lead into expansive underground caverns, some of which are rife with fungal life and underground streams.
Wild life: Simply put, all the things humans hate can be found in the Territories. Mosquito swarms, giant wasps, hungry wolves, crocodiles, poisonous toads, acid-spitting lizards, giant turtles, termites... Goblins were allowed to keep these lands simply because they were considered inhospitable and undesirable.
Important locations: Most of the eastern lands in the Confederacy were once part of a small but powerful merchant city-state known as Veristal. The people of this region would reward anyone who returns this land to them with substantial wealth. However, the land is also considered sacred by ancient goblin tradition, as it was originally stolen from them by Veristal in an old war. Any military action made to take this land back from the goblins will be met with extreme resistance.
History: The Confederation was formed by Brigga, a relatively young warlord of the Dagger Clan, when the nearby nation of Veristal started hiring mercenaries and adventurers to clear out the goblins from their territories. Under her leadership, the goblins not only crushed the Veristal mercenaries, but continued their march onto their cities and razed them to the ground. The surviving humans fled and became refugees in other nations; the goblins, meanwhile, rallied under their new leader and claimed the ruins of the once majestic realm as their own, renaming the capitol "Daggerpoint."
Summary: A swampy expanse filled with independent goblin clans united under a powerful ruler, Big Queen Brigga.
Strengths: Unconventional weaponry; highly defensive; good performance in rough, wet, and wooded terrain.
Weaknesses: Decentralized rule; technological inferiority; poor performance in open terrain.
Fashion/style: Goblins wear whatever they can find, practically. Some goblins wear almost nothing at all save for leggings or loincloths. Goblins do not wear shoes, as their webbed, prehensile feet function better without them. There really isn't any predominant fashion among the species besides the act of displaying trophies; namely, articles of clothing taken from the enemies of goblinkind will be worn proudly, the better to show that the goblin race has triumphed over its rivals. Some goblin clans try to emulate the culture of nearby non-goblin nations, but this is not a universal constant.
Art: By other nations' standards, goblin art is rough and crude. It most often takes the form of painted scenes or religious symbols and woodworks. In some places, using one's own blood as paint is considered the norm.
Important dates: ...
Weird laws/rules: ...
Fun facts: ...
Species
Name: Goblin
Race/species: Species
Description: Small but terribly numerous, goblins are considered a blight by the civilized races of the world. They usually stand somewhere between three and four-and-a-half feet tall, though certain individuals may be born much taller than the rest. Their skin ranges from greens to gray-greens to sickly yellows, and they are considered twisted, malformed, and ugly in appearance. Their prehensile feet have a web-like quality, and their fingers are long and slender; their ears are pointed, generally sticking out to the sides a few inches, and are usually sharp and upright, as if on constant alert.
Natural abilities: Goblins are naturally resilient creatures, capable of surviving off food that would be poisonous or toxic to others, including deadly fungi, snakes, and insects. Their senses are keener than a human's, and they have naturally fast reflexes. Of course, they're also physically weak compared to the other races...
Lifespan: Goblins reach adulthood in five years and can live for thirty years of age, sometimes lasting up to thirty five or even forty years. Most don't make it past the age of ten due to constant warfare and starvation.
Important members: Big Brigga (see above)
Relations to other species: Very few civilizations tolerate the presence of goblins. Most consider them a blight that ought to be removed, and it is not uncommon to find bounties for goblin heads at a city watch, or to hear of some rugged mercenary boasting of having slain a dozen of them. Of late, they're earning a more fearsome reputation...
History: Since the dawn of time, Goblins have been used as instruments of war by more powerful creatures. They have served various warlords and would-be conquerors, and powerful wizards of past eras coerced them into service with powerful magics. Their overlords have always betrayed them in the end, casting them aside once no longer needed or leaving them to their fate once a pivotal battle is lost. The Goblin species has been subjugated, enslaved, and forced out of their lands, and genocide against them has long been justified by their crude lifestyle and their inherent tendencies toward evil, so say the civilized nations of the world.
Every so often, a goblin leader rises with the capacity to unite their people and use them toward their own aims. Big Brigga is one such leader. Under her leadership, the goblins believe they can conquer sufficient lands to allow their people to grow, and perhaps even become a respected and feared world power.
Primary Language: Goblin
Secondary Language: Guttertongue (a common thief language used by criminal organizations across the world; a variation of the common tongue that includes sign language)
Religion: Hero Worship; Spirit Worship
Strengths: Keen senses; practically immune to disease and poison; adaptable; fast-breeding; good reflexes.
Weaknesses: Physically weak; fragile frame; small size; short lifespan.
Nation
Name: The Goblin Territories; the Confederation of Clans
Flag: There is no national flag, though there are numerous flags for individual goblin clans. Most of these depict weapons, trophies, an object from a major battle, or religious symbols. The flag of the most powerful clan depicts a black tower being toppled on an orange background.
Capitol: Daggerpoint (Formerly known as Veristal, a human merchant metropolis)
Capitol Population: 2,000,000
Population: 7,500,000 (approximate)
Major cities: Deepwatch (an underground city), Fort Longtooth (home to the Longtooth Clan, a group of famous raiders), Boggerdown (a swampy morass where explosive gases can be found)
Racial demographics: 7,500,000 goblins
Society:
"They [the goblins] crawl out of their dens like ants from their nest, but possess neither of the insect virtues of diligence nor loyalty."
~Theo Hawken, scholar
Goblins are an isolationist and territorial lot whose memories extend far beyond their short lifespans, and are more loyal to each other than outsiders would suspect. Goblin clans often wage war on each other, true; but within a given clan, there is a strong sense of community, perhaps because everyone within the clan must contribute for the goblins to survive in the harsh environments they are forced to live in. A common saying goes like this: "If there's one goblin, there's a hundred of them," and that's not far from the truth. Threatening the life or livelihood of a goblin will bring most of its extended family to the scene ready to attack.
Life for goblins has never been easy. They have always been forced into the places nobody wishes to live: The swamps, the wastelands, and the bowels of the earth. Their society has adapted to reflect this; their buildings tend to be very crude and minimalist, built to be taken apart and moved at any time or used as deathtraps for invaders. If they're built to last, they're built to be hidden or located somewhere civilized people would never wish to tread. The goblin palette ranges from bland to heartbreaking; some clans are able to live off of rice and leaves, but others are forced to eat little more than worms, insects, and tree bark.
For those clans in the Goblin Territories, an individual's role in society is a strange and uncertain thing. Goblins are a community-minded people, so anyone who makes a bid for power is often either cut from a different vein than the majority of their kin or believes they will help their clan the best by leading them. Usually, leadership is taken on a simple basis of "might makes right," but sometimes there is a religious context that brings an individual to the forefront of goblin politics.
Goblin religion is a superstitious beast filled with omens good and bad that are read by oracles and prophets. Goblins do not worship gods so much as they revere heroes of the past and make bargains with spirits to bring favor or avoid catastrophe. Indeed, goblin priests are most often referred to as "God-Talkers" because they are believed to actually speak and haggle with the gods. This often means offering a sacrifice in return for a better fungal harvest or avoiding some territory for a few years in return for favors on the battlefield. Given the rather unorthodox nature of their religion, it should not be surprising that goblins include other peoples' deities in their religion. Many a traveler has been surprised to see a clan of goblins worshiping the statue of a human hero, striking bargains with the hero's spirit and trying to gain his unique human insight into the ways of their enemies.
Law: Tradition and group cohesion take precedence in goblin law. The ruler of a given clan (known as a 'king' or 'queen') has the right to give any ruling he or she desires over any incident, but tyrannical or arbitrary behavior will quickly see them deposed and killed. Instead, they often delegate this power to any goblin over the age of ten who demonstrates a keen understanding of goblin history and traditional law. Known simply as Elders, these individuals have the same absolute power and are subject to the same violent whims of their people, and make decisions in the name of the clan boss. Usually, the ruler of the clan will conduct executions personally to show the clan that they can bear the responsibility of their position, even if that means executing their own close relatives.
Education: Goblins do not have the same educational opportunities the rest of the world does given their difficult situation. Most young goblins are taught collectively by a group of adults in the basics of the world: How to forage, fight, and flee. Once they reach the age of three years old, goblins are usually apprenticed in more specific trades, finding individuals willing to sponsor and teach them. Each goblin has an equal opportunity to become anything the tribe may need (fungal farmer, hunter, bug breeder, apothecary, God-Talker, etc.), and those who cannot find a sponsor typically become laborers or warriors.
Technology: While the rest of the world embraces steamworks and metallurgy, the Confederation of Clans focuses its efforts on subjects within the natural world: Poisons, medicines, diseases, and beasts. Goblins are always hunting through the swamps in search of new, more powerful herbs that may be used to harm their enemies of heal their kin, and through selective breeding (and a little magic) have created species of poisonous wasps, weaponized termites, giant spiders, and more. Besides such strange and terrible things, goblins also are always eager to experiment with swamp gases...
Tax: Goblins do not have a form of currency and thus do not have taxes; instead, they simply pool their resources together and take what is needed for themselves.
Imports: Goblins are not known for trade. If they do trade, however, they import metal objects (especially tools and weapons), alcohol, salt, and meat.
Exports: If anyone will accept goblin goods, they typically are after their deadly poisons or their powerful herbal medicines. Some will trade for the sap and wood from goblins' swamp trees. The wood is held in high regard for its strong but flexible nature, and the sap can be used as a sort of glue. Nobody trades for goblin food, though.
Industries: Wood works; alchemy; herbs; fungus farming; insects.
Renown Associations: The Bog
Government: Confederation - There are a large number of goblin clans, and each clan considers itself independent; however, the clans have joined together to form a confederation to assist each other in times of war. The head of the confederation is known simply as the 'Big King' or 'Big Queen' depending on their gender and has absolute authority in matters of war. This is not to say their rule is unquestioned. Indeed, the head of this confederation is often forced to demonstrate their power either in a show of personal strength or by attacking the offending clan.
Relations: The Confederation of Clans has no real allies, and yet it has many enemies. It does not help matters that they are considered lower than animals by most of the world. Anyone who wishes to invade or enslave the goblins would find no political opposition from the rest of the world. The Goblins are in severe need of allies, but anyone who would align themselves with them risks losing their other allies, and those nations who lack allies would likely betray the Goblins the moment the alliance proved unfavorable. Needless to say, this puts the goblins in a unique and disastrous political position.
Important officials:
* Big Queen Brigga - More commonly known as "Big Brigga," this goblin woman has reached twelve years of age (well into adulthood) and is known for being rather tall for a goblin, standing at a full five feet. Big Brigga, head of the Dagger Clan, is a warlord through and through, having been essential in the recent reunification of the clans and the conquest of the territories the Confederation now calls its own. The prophets all agree that she is destined to lead the goblins to an age of glory. Until her rise to power, there had been no Big Queen or Big King for fifty years.
Currency: Goblins do not have a currency. They measure wealth by the quantity and quality of one's goods.
Military: While the exact numbers of soldiers in the goblin armies change frequently, and no real count is ever made, it can be agreed that almost every goblin is capable of fighting, though only 5-10 percent of the species serves as an active military force. Anyone attacking a goblin city will likely face opposition from even their noncombatants.
Goblin forces wield unconventional weaponry. While they lack the powerful steam-powered weaponry of other nations, they wield terrifying toxins and ride unusual beasts into battle. Many a knight has gaped in horror as acid bombs dissolved his fine steel armor, and many more soldiers have had to leave the battlefield suffering maladies ranging from mild irritations to fatal poisons, dysentery, boils, thin blood and paralyzed limbs after being struck by a tainted goblin arrow. Their weapons tend to be barbed or hooked, and many goblins purposely rust their arrowheads and spears to better spread disease and illness among their enemies. Other goblin weapons include weaponized termites (used especially in naval battles) flung in jars, catapults that launch rotting corpses, flasks of acid, sticky bombs, explosive balloons (made from swamp gases), slings designed to launch unusual projectiles (such as flasks and bombs), and more.
Goblins tactics typically involve weakening their opponents as much as possible before attacking en-masse. To this end, they depend largely on speed, mobility, and ambushes. Goblins often strike at night rather than the day, and will use the terrain against their enemies. Their mounts range from giant spiders (which are used to prepare ambushes in forests and in the swamps) to wolves and giant wasps (which serve the function of more traditional cavalry).
Landscape: Swamplands make up the majority of the Confederacy's lands, though there are also forests and hilly regions. The eastern peninsula within the goblin territories is rather mountainous. There are also several caves that lead into expansive underground caverns, some of which are rife with fungal life and underground streams.
Wild life: Simply put, all the things humans hate can be found in the Territories. Mosquito swarms, giant wasps, hungry wolves, crocodiles, poisonous toads, acid-spitting lizards, giant turtles, termites... Goblins were allowed to keep these lands simply because they were considered inhospitable and undesirable.
Important locations: Most of the eastern lands in the Confederacy were once part of a small but powerful merchant city-state known as Veristal. The people of this region would reward anyone who returns this land to them with substantial wealth. However, the land is also considered sacred by ancient goblin tradition, as it was originally stolen from them by Veristal in an old war. Any military action made to take this land back from the goblins will be met with extreme resistance.
History: The Confederation was formed by Brigga, a relatively young warlord of the Dagger Clan, when the nearby nation of Veristal started hiring mercenaries and adventurers to clear out the goblins from their territories. Under her leadership, the goblins not only crushed the Veristal mercenaries, but continued their march onto their cities and razed them to the ground. The surviving humans fled and became refugees in other nations; the goblins, meanwhile, rallied under their new leader and claimed the ruins of the once majestic realm as their own, renaming the capitol "Daggerpoint."
Summary: A swampy expanse filled with independent goblin clans united under a powerful ruler, Big Queen Brigga.
Strengths: Unconventional weaponry; highly defensive; good performance in rough, wet, and wooded terrain.
Weaknesses: Decentralized rule; technological inferiority; poor performance in open terrain.
Fashion/style: Goblins wear whatever they can find, practically. Some goblins wear almost nothing at all save for leggings or loincloths. Goblins do not wear shoes, as their webbed, prehensile feet function better without them. There really isn't any predominant fashion among the species besides the act of displaying trophies; namely, articles of clothing taken from the enemies of goblinkind will be worn proudly, the better to show that the goblin race has triumphed over its rivals. Some goblin clans try to emulate the culture of nearby non-goblin nations, but this is not a universal constant.
Art: By other nations' standards, goblin art is rough and crude. It most often takes the form of painted scenes or religious symbols and woodworks. In some places, using one's own blood as paint is considered the norm.
Important dates: ...
Weird laws/rules: ...
Fun facts: ...
Species
Name: Goblin
Race/species: Species
Description: Small but terribly numerous, goblins are considered a blight by the civilized races of the world. They usually stand somewhere between three and four-and-a-half feet tall, though certain individuals may be born much taller than the rest. Their skin ranges from greens to gray-greens to sickly yellows, and they are considered twisted, malformed, and ugly in appearance. Their prehensile feet have a web-like quality, and their fingers are long and slender; their ears are pointed, generally sticking out to the sides a few inches, and are usually sharp and upright, as if on constant alert.
Natural abilities: Goblins are naturally resilient creatures, capable of surviving off food that would be poisonous or toxic to others, including deadly fungi, snakes, and insects. Their senses are keener than a human's, and they have naturally fast reflexes. Of course, they're also physically weak compared to the other races...
Lifespan: Goblins reach adulthood in five years and can live for thirty years of age, sometimes lasting up to thirty five or even forty years. Most don't make it past the age of ten due to constant warfare and starvation.
Important members: Big Brigga (see above)
Relations to other species: Very few civilizations tolerate the presence of goblins. Most consider them a blight that ought to be removed, and it is not uncommon to find bounties for goblin heads at a city watch, or to hear of some rugged mercenary boasting of having slain a dozen of them. Of late, they're earning a more fearsome reputation...
History: Since the dawn of time, Goblins have been used as instruments of war by more powerful creatures. They have served various warlords and would-be conquerors, and powerful wizards of past eras coerced them into service with powerful magics. Their overlords have always betrayed them in the end, casting them aside once no longer needed or leaving them to their fate once a pivotal battle is lost. The Goblin species has been subjugated, enslaved, and forced out of their lands, and genocide against them has long been justified by their crude lifestyle and their inherent tendencies toward evil, so say the civilized nations of the world.
Every so often, a goblin leader rises with the capacity to unite their people and use them toward their own aims. Big Brigga is one such leader. Under her leadership, the goblins believe they can conquer sufficient lands to allow their people to grow, and perhaps even become a respected and feared world power.
Primary Language: Goblin
Secondary Language: Guttertongue (a common thief language used by criminal organizations across the world; a variation of the common tongue that includes sign language)
Religion: Hero Worship; Spirit Worship
Strengths: Keen senses; practically immune to disease and poison; adaptable; fast-breeding; good reflexes.
Weaknesses: Physically weak; fragile frame; small size; short lifespan.
Hmm... Post World War II technology; fantasy races, but no magic. I'll be thinking of exactly what I want to do. Could you give an example of magic-like qualities you'd allow? Is this a world (given its World War II level tech) where guns already dominate the military scene, or are there still some hangers-on to the old methods of war? And how unusual will you allow technology to go in the quest for finding something unique?
As for maps, I like the fourth map. It looks a bit small, but still.
My current idea is going to be something focused around weaponizing the power of electricity. I just can't help but imagine swords that use electric shocks right now.
Depending on how my application in a similar thread goes, I may ask if I can play the nation I'm hoping to use in that thread (I'm still writing an application for that thread). Namely, it's a bunch of goblins that are going a more "we use fungi and poisons and acids and breed giant animals/insects of doooom" route. (Example: Weaponized termites, catapults launching disease-ridden garbage and corpses,
As for maps, I like the fourth map. It looks a bit small, but still.
My current idea is going to be something focused around weaponizing the power of electricity. I just can't help but imagine swords that use electric shocks right now.
Depending on how my application in a similar thread goes, I may ask if I can play the nation I'm hoping to use in that thread (I'm still writing an application for that thread). Namely, it's a bunch of goblins that are going a more "we use fungi and poisons and acids and breed giant animals/insects of doooom" route. (Example: Weaponized termites, catapults launching disease-ridden garbage and corpses,
I'm interested in this thread. Expect a bunch of primitive, disease-ridden, spear-poking goblins to contrast with the rest of these high tech nations. I'll be claiming the following area:
Goblin Territories
The blue territory is the region I would like to claim. I'd also like to claim that the area contains fertile, swampy regions... Extremely swampy regions.
Goblin Territories
The blue territory is the region I would like to claim. I'd also like to claim that the area contains fertile, swampy regions... Extremely swampy regions.
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